Filling many hats from speaker, host, consultant and facilitator, Kent uses the message "using yesterday as fuel today for tomorrow" as his primary message.
Being an adopted, high school drop out, a young co parent who was homeless two times, life taught Kent three things: 1. What you go through creates who you will become if you allow it. 2. Ambition and faith in your goals will determine if you will become that person. 3. Your story is important.
Making sure the audience is left with a full tank of gas and lightened from the burdens they carry to start the new day is the desired result for Kent with whatever task he is summoned for.
Kent's energy and witty storytelling superceded my expectations.
Kent's presentation was everything that I expected and more. Lively, engaging, encouraging and motivating. The students said "they could relate to him" and "he spoke from his heart". Kent is welcome anytime!
We were thrilled and impressed with Kent's talk with our students yesterday. His message resonated with many of them and they seemed to identify with what he was saying. We hope to have him back in the future!
Kent Wade visited my 3rd grade classroom with a lively spirit that immediately grasped my students attention. He came prepared with a power point presentation, facts, and personal stories that kept my students fully engaged and attentive. Kent's presentation was high-energy and appropriately paced for elementary school children. His relatability made my students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and encouraged to be a catalyst of change.
As a teacher I asked Kent to speak to my students to try to motivate them to work to their best potential. Some of them don't realize the importance of their education. Kent was amazing! He truly connected with the students and they were inspired. When we returned to class, they could not stop talking about how powerful his presentation was and how they were very touched by his stories. This may need to become a recurring presentation to each of my new group of students! Thank you Kent for helping to motivate the junior high students at Montessori.
Original speech related to how plants grow thru a foundation, blood sweat and tears, and heat; all related to progression of a child into manhood. Timely speech for our son's Rites to Passage program.
Mr. Wade is an excellent speaker, very motivational. I admire his ambition and the work he does for our community. God is going to continue to bless this young man.
Response from Kent Wade:
Thank you so much for those words
Mr Kent you are the best speaker I've heard and you make me learn a lot thank you
Awesome, intriguing, unexpected, direct and very straight to the point! This dude is what you need in a motivational speaker he brings tenacity and he is very easy to understand. Make sure you book him for your next event!
Natural leader. Good voice, message is clear. Anyone can relate to his words, and if you know his story, you'll appreciate the sincerity of his work.
I've had the privilege to not only witness several sessions but to work along side of this man. There is no doubt he has a captivating way of looking the attention of anyone who is inside the sound of his voice. He brings his story of struggles and hardship to life in an empowering and uplifting way that is guaranteed to rearrange the way you look at obstacles.
I had the pleasure of an informal session with Mr. Wade. I left feeling inspired and energized. I have a new found appreciation for struggle of my youth and a greater understanding of my progress. He is honest and relatable with a message of uplifting.
Response from Kent Wade:
Thank you so much for the love!!! Glad I made an impact.
Price Range: $500 and up
Gig Length: 20 - 180 minutes
Languages: English
With each presentation you can expect:
- High energy
- Applicable points toward self growth
- Real life situations
- Motivation & empowerment
-Interactive dialogue
- Measurable goal creation
- Testing comfort zones
- Boost in self confidence
- Form your own story
Kent Wade is a professional public speaker, facilitator, and storyteller. Currently serving as VP on the Kankakee Public Library (KPL) board of directors, Wade has over 14 years of library and customer service experience.
Despite being a homeless, high school dropout, Mr. Wade obtained an associate’s degree from Kankakee Community College in 2012. Empowered by scholarship writing and interviews, Kent began telling his story. The journey to inspire others to identify, define and work toward their ambitions, led him to work with the United Way in 2009, as Teen Program Coordinator of the KPL from (phone number hidden)7. Mr. Wade has mentored hundreds of youth locally and statewide. Kent’s ability to be a change agent earned him a 40 Under 40 award from the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce in 2016. In the last ten years, Wade has engaged and motivated audiences across the country including, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Las Vegas and throughout Illinois.
During the summer of 2018, Shake the Fear, a workshop aimed at helping participants overcome the fear of speaking, was launched. This workshop was the catalyst to Kent unleashing, Lift With Ambition; a business aimed at helping beginner speakers and professionals enhance their lives by telling their stories, their way.
Wireless mic (if needed or available)
Projector (if needed or available)
| February 03, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm | School Assembly |
| June 13, 2019 • 5:30pm - 9:00pm | Shake the Fear workshop |
| June 20, 2017 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | For the people Open Mic |
| June 08, 2017 • 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Kankakee Community College GED Graduation |
| March 09, 2016 • 10:00am - 1:00pm | School Assembly |
Projector and Screen. Microphone if needed.
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